Number of Quebecers Moving Out-of-Province at 15-Year High

2013 saw Quebec’s population rising by about 63,000, but it also saw the total growth rate for the province decreasing for the fourth consecutive year.

This week the annual report on population statistics as released by the Institut de la statistique du Québec, found that the slowdown was not due to a declining number of births and deaths (which remained stable last year), but in fact due to migration changes.

“The slowdown was due to changes in migration components, such as higher interprovincial losses and a decline in the number of immigrants,” the institute noted in a statement.

Quebec welcomed 5,500 fewer immigrants to the province in 2013: around 52,000 compared to 55,050 in 2012. The top countries of origin were China, France and Algeria, followed by Haiti and Morocco. Nearly two out of three newcomers were aged 20 to 44. In 2013, 13,100 people left to live in another province, as compared to 8,7000 Quebecers in 2012 that relocated. The first choice of destination was Ontario (7,100) and Alberta (4,700).